Moistening apparatus



1960 E. c. CAMPBELL, JR 2, 7

' MOISTENING APPARATUS Filed May 8, 1959 INVENTOR.

Ernesi Ca/wh Campbell Jn ifi omaw A 'TTORNEYS United States Patent 2,954,573 Patented Oct. 4, 1960 MOISTENING APPARATUS Filed May 8, 1959, 'Ser. No. 811,980

7 'Claims. (Cl. 15-131) This invention relates to moistening apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for moistening objects having adhesive thereon or impregnated therein, which upon moistening with liquid will become sticky and I other objects will adhere thereto.

More particularly the invention relates to apparatus for moistening strips of ribbon having adhesive or the like impregnated in the ribbon itself so that upon moistening with liquid, such as water, the ribbon will become sticky at the desired point for adhering other parts or strips of ribbon material thereto. The moistener of the present invention was particularly designed for use in making decorative bows or pompoms for decorating packages and other objects using strips of ribbon impregnated with adhesive or the like.

The principal objects of the present invent-ion are to provide a container for liquid, such as water, and a cover for the container, the container and cover having arms extending parallel with each other with a gripping portion for extending over the finger of the users hand to support the moistener when in use; to provide the cover with a depending portion engaging the inner walls of the container, the walls of the cover being held to the container by friction and rotatable therein; to provide handle members on the cover and container having gripping portions to fit the finger of the users hand whereby when the cover is inserted in the container the arms may be rotated towards each other to grip the finger and separated for removing the finger therefrom; and to provide a device of this character simple and economical to manufacture.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my invention shown attached to the finger of the user and in use on a strip of ribbon material.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device taken from the finger hold side.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on a line 33, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the device.

Fig. 5 is a perspective disassembled view of the device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a moistening device embodying the features of my invention comprising, a container 2 having a wall 3 and a bottom 4 having a flat or plane surface 4'. The upper part of the container 2 is provided with an annular flange 5 and it has a transverse arm 6 extending from one side thereof and is of semi-circular form as indicated at 7 (Fig. 4). The finger member or handle 6 is provided with an upwardly extending semi-circular flange 8, and the bottom of the container is provided with a plurality of small perforations or openings 9.

Adapted to fit within the inner side 10 of the container wall 3 and to be frictionally held therein is a cover member 11 having a depending boss 12 open at its lower end as indicated at 13 (Fig. 3) so that the cover is slidable and rotatable within the container 2. The cover is also provided with a top 14 and an annular flange 15 substantially the same size as the flange 5 on the container. One side of the cover is provided with an arm '16 of semicircular form as indicated at 17 (Fig. 5) and has a depending flange 18.

In use the liquid such as water or the like 19 is placed in the top in an upside down position and the wall of the container 2 placed over the depending wall 12 of the cover member and frictionally held therein. The device may then be turned right side up and the water retained in the container. The cover member and container are rotatable one with respect to the other, so that the semi-circular arms 6 and 16 may be adjusted to fit the finger 20 of the user as shown in Fig. l, the upwardly extending flange 8 on the container and depending flange 18 of the cover forming jaws or gripper members to engage the finger to hold the device thereon at the desired angle.

21 designates a piece of ribbon impregnated with adhesive as indicated at 22. The moistening device is particularly adapted to be held on the finger in a position where it will be out of the way of use of the hand when the hands are desired to be used in forming decorative bows or other objects, or even for moistening envelopes or the like for use of stamps thereon. The device may be used for moistening the adhesive portion of envelopes for causing the adhesive to become sticky before sealing the envelope. Other uses may also be utilized as the occasion warrants.

When the flat bottom face of the container is moved over the ribbon, paper or other surface upon which it is to be used, then the movement of thed'evice across said objects will cause the water in the perforations 9 to contact the same and be withdrawn through the perforations to moisten the object upon which the water is to be used. When the device is raised from the surface the water will not escape through the perforations 9 because of their small size. Surface tension and friction tend to hold and maintain the liquid therein. Air is also entrapped above the liquid under the cover 14 which tends to aid in holding the water within the container.

As stated above, the device is particularly adapted for use in the making of decorative bows from ribbons cut in strips, the ribbon being impregnated with adhesive so that when the ribbon is. moistened it becomes sticky and two pieces of ribbon may be stuck together and become firmly adhered to each other.

Other uses may be made of the device, the above being merely by way of illustration and not by limitation.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided a moistening device which will maintain water therein until it is desired to moisten an object and then by movement of the bottom of the container thereover the body will becomemoistened to cause the adhesive on the body to become sticky and a device which may be worn by the finger of the user and be at a position or angle out of way of use of the hand of the user.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A moistening device carried by the finger of a user for applying liquid to an adhesive surface comprising, a container for the liquid having an open top and a perforated bottom, a cover for said open top of the container frictionally held on to the container, an arm extending laterally outwardly from each of the container and cover forming jaws for engaging the finger of the user whereby movement of the bottom of the container 3 over the surface to be moistened will cause the liquid to escape through the perforations to moisten said surace.

2. A moistening device carried by the finger of a user for applying liquid to an adhesive surface comprising, a container for the liquid having an open top and a perforated bottom, a cover for said open top of the container having a depending member engaging the walls of the container for holding the cover to the container, and arm extending laterallyqoutwardly from each of the container and cover, said arm on the cover being at a higher elevation than the arm on the container and said arms being movable toward and away from each other and having facing surfaces near their outer ends for engaging the finger of the user whereby movement of the bottom of the container over the surface to be moistened will cause the liquid to escape through the perforations to moisten said surface.

3. A moistening device carried by the finger of a user for applying liquid to an adhesive surface comprising, a container for the liquid having an open top and a perforated bottom, a cover for said open top of the container having a depending member engaging the inner Walls of the container and frictionally holding the cover on the container, said container having a rim on its open top, an arm extending outwardly from the rim of the container, an arm extending outwardly from said cover, said arms having facing surfaces for engaging the finger of the user, said cover and container being rotatable to accommodate the facing surfaces of said arms to the finger whereby movement of the bottom of the container over the surface to be moistened will cause the liquid to escape through the perforations to moisten said surface.

4. A moistening device carried by the finger of a user for applying liquid to an adhesive surface comprising, a container for the liquid having an open top, side walls and a perforated bottom, a cover for said open top of the container having a depending boss providing Walls for frictionally engaging the inner wall of the container for holding the container and cover rotatably together, an arm extending laterally outwardly from each of the container and cover having oppositely facing flanges forming oppositely facing jaws for engaging the finger of the user whereby movement of the bottom of the container over the surface to be moistened will cause the liquid to escape through the perforations to moisten said surface.

5. A moistening device including a socket for containing Water, said socket having 'a perforated bottom and an open top, a cover, rotatably engaging said socket, said socket and cover each having means for embracing a finger whereby rotation of said means and said socket and cover will adjust said means to secure the device to said finger.

6. A moistening device including a socket for containing Water, said socket having a perforated bottom and an open top, a cover for said socket having a depending skirt extending into the socket friotionally holding the socket and cover in rotatable engagement with each other, said socket and cover each having means for embracing -a finger whereby rotation of said means and said socket cover will adjust said means to secure the device to said finger.

7. A moistening device including a socket for containing water, said socket having :a perforated bottom and an open top having a rim, a cover for said socket having -a depending skirt extending into the socket frictionally holding the socket and cover in engagement with each other, said socket having an arm attached to said rim and said cover having an arm attached to said cover, said arms being provided with oppositely facing curved jaws for embracing a finger to secure the device thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

